Fishing and seafood organisations say they’re ‘hopeful’ that the Minister for the Marine is about to announce a national fuel aid scheme for the Irish fleet.
Representatives of the industry met with Minister Charlie McConalogue this week to discuss escalating fuel costs.
EU funding is already in place to support such fuel aid, but to date, Ireland had failed to implement one.
Patrick Murphy of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO) says some Irish vessels fishing off our Southwest coast now land elsewhere. “They have had compelling economic reasons to land their Irish caught fish at French ports to avail of cheaper fuel. The French draw down and distribute approved EU Funding. We have urged the Minister for action for the last 6 months. We must implement a similar scheme in Ireland if we are to survive.”